DNA on baby blanket links former deputy to alleged rape

Updated 1:55 pm, Thursday, December 19, 2013

Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle

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Former Deputy Donald Wayne Tipps leaves court after appearing Thursday, Dec. 19, 2013, in Houston. The former Harris County Sheriff's Deputy was indicted for sexual assault and official oppression, accused of coercing a woman into sex instead of arresting her for an open warrant. less

Former Deputy Donald Wayne Tipps leaves court after appearing Thursday, Dec. 19, 2013, in Houston. The former Harris County Sheriff's Deputy was indicted for sexual assault and official oppression, accused of ... more

Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle

DNA on baby blanket links former deputy to alleged rape

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DNA from a former Harris County Sheriff's deputy was found on a baby blanket used to clean up after an alleged rape earlier this year, prosecutors said Thursday.

Donald Wayne Tipps, 48, was indicted this week for sexual assault and official oppression over allegations the deputy forced a woman into sex instead of arresting her for an open warrant on Aug. 13.

In court, prosecutor Lauren Byrne said DNA was found on the blanket, the victim and her clothes after the woman went to a hospital and reported the alleged attack.

Byrne said the woman told authorities Tipps came to her home with an arrest warrant, took her to a bedroom, unzipped his pants and asked, "How do you want to take care of these tickets?"

Tipps resigned from the sheriff's office after the allegations surfaced in August.

State District Judge Catherine Evans said Tipps is prohibited from contacting the woman while free on bail.

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Tipps and his attorney, Earl Musick, declined to comment after leaving court.

The district attorney's Civil Rights Division has said there could be additional victims in the Tipps case and asks anyone who is a victim or knows someone else who is to call 713-755-7077 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.